Cate Kerr & Dunbarover IV win the British Showjumping 128cm Championship
Saturday 10 October 2020
From a field of almost thirty combinations it was 11 year-old Cate Kerr from Newmarket in Suffolk that took the win in the British Showjumping 128cm Championship sponsored by RG Farriers Ltd, with her mother Lisa’s 11 year-old 128cm dun pony Dunbarover IV.
Nine had made it through to the jump-off but it was Cate’s very fast clear in a time of 32.93 seconds that saw her secure the win and relegate the rest of the field, including her second ride, behind her. The jump off course allowed for the young riders to make some tight turns inside some of the fences if they chose to before the final fence which came just after an oxer turning back across the short side. The entire field all showed great maturity under the pressure that goes hand-in-hand with competing at a championship show whilst also clearly illustrating the talent that is coming up through the youth ranks. Joining Cate in posting the only other double clear of the competition was last to go Sophia Rogers with Whinney Lass, who stopped the clock slightly slower in 34.19 to take 2nd place whilst Katie Bradburne took 3rd with Carrowvila Izzy as the fastest combination with 4 faults ahead of Cate’s second ride Taggarts Express who finished 4th.
Talking afterwards a very happy Cate said of her win “It was very exciting to win, I had just got off my other pony when the last one was to go and when I heard the commentator say I had won I just hugged Yogi [Dunbarover’s stable name] as I was so pleased. I went into the jump off thinking I knew that a lot of the riders would go quick so I thought I would go for it. He is always really good and I could feel his adrenalin building up but he’s also always good in the ring. The last fence was difficult because it was on an angle so you had to make sure you didn’t cut it too short so I just aimed for the middle.”
About Yogi’s personality at home she said “He is quite funny as sometimes when something goes past him he can put his ears back and pull a face but he’s really happy at home and he likes to chill out in his favourite corner of the stable and he just stands there with a floppy lip."
Talking about her plans for the rest of the year and next she said “Mike Maloney helps me with my jumping and explains everything to me and helps me when I walk the course. We will try and qualify for next year’s Hickstead and also for this Final again.”
The British Showjumping Indoor Championships runs between the 7 – 11 October at Aintree Equestrian Centre with a number of the major British Showjumping national titles being run across the event. Further information on the show can be found at www.aintreeequestriancentre.org and livestream from the event is available at www.britishequestriansport.tv powered by Clip My Horse TV.
RESULTS:
1. Cate Kerr & Dunbarover IV ( 0/0 32.93)
2. Sophia Rogers & Whinney Lass ( 0/0 34.19)
3. Katie Bradburne & Carrowvila Izzy ( 0/4 32.67)
4. Cate Kerr & Taggarts Express (0/4 33.17)
5. Rosie Campbell & Toorboy Tommy (0/4 35.22)
6. Emily Irvine & Bunbury Conquest (0/4 35.84)
Image courtesy of Majestic Photography
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